Your Security Online - Time to Check Your Privacy Settings

How do you connect online with your loved ones, your friends, your co-workers? Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp? Do you shop on Amazon.com, eBay or other sites? Do you use a desktop, laptop, smartphone – or do you even have a fitness tracker? The “bad actors” do, too – and they are watching!

It used to be you could handle all your privacy settings just by making sure your phone number was unlisted, but things have sure changed. All the common ways you connect with family and friends have privacy settings – settings you can and should check and update regularly. Most people in the U.S. connect to at least one social platform at least once a day – and the majority connect more than once in multiple ways.

Here are three ways to help you keep your private information private.

1. Check your settings regularly: You may be surprised to see just how public your private information is. Set a reminder to check your privacy settings at least once a quarter. Usually, you can simply go to “Settings” and then look for “Privacy,” but the link below will help you if the settings aren’t obvious. Read the choices carefully and select the most restrictive ones that make sense for you. If you have minor children, be sure to have the strongest parental controls available so you can both restrict and monitor their usage and limit their exposure to bad actors out in the world.
   
   
2. Visit StaySafeOnline from the National Cyber Security Alliance website for useful cybersecurity tips: You can find links to privacy settings for dozens of the most common applications and devices on the StaySafeOnline page. Just click through to easy instructions on how to optimize your privacy settings.
   
   
3. Use the strongest authentication possible on your accounts: This reminder is especially important for your online banking and shopping relationships. Multi-factor authentication (sometimes called two-step verification) is extremely important – it’s usually in the form of a one-time code you receive via text, call or email, that you’ll enter to verify your identity in addition to your password. Yes, it’s an extra step, but it works best to keep your financial-based accounts secure.

Even if you check and update your settings regularly, be sure to check out professional identity theft protection. It can detect additional forms of identity fraud with existing accounts, or criminal, medical, or Social Security misuse. ID360 is available to you and your family at a substantial discount because of your affiliation with Cetera Financial Group. Visit https://www.identitylockdown.com/Cetera to learn more.

Please feel free to reach out to us if you’d like more information about keeping your personal information secure.

Please Note:  The information being provided is strictly as a courtesy.  When you link to any of the websites provided here, you are leaving this website.  We make no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided at these websites.  Nor is the company liable for any direct or indirect technical or system issues or any consequences arising out of your access to or your use of third-party technologies, websites, information or programs made available through this website.  When you access one of these websites, you are leaving our website and assume total responsibility and risk for your use of the websites to which you are linking.